More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Calls have been re-ignited to scrap charges for dumping non-household waste at recycling centres to help tackle fly-tipping across Kent.
Kent County Council (KCC) introduced fees for DIY-type waste such as soil, rubble, hardcore and plasterboard at its 18 household waste centres in June 2019.
But more than two years on, Gravesham council leader John Burden (Lab) believes the fees – ranging between £4 and £6 an item – have been a failed experiment.
At the time they were introduced, KCC said it had seen an increase in building waste being brought to its recycling centres and that it could no longer afford to accept this free of charge.
Residents, councillors and at least one Kent MP warned adding costs could lead to a rise in fly-tipping cases. But the county council hit back at this argument, saying there was "no clear evidence" between charging and the rate of dumping.
However, since the onset of the pandemic fly-tipping has increased with just under two-thirds (65%) involving household waste, according to the latest government statistics.
In Gravesend there have been 2,278 reported cases in the year 2019/20. Only Medway, Dartford, Swale and Maidstone have seen more incidents.
It has prompted the local borough council to increase enforcement action and urge residents to report every incident after a spate of dumping in country lanes.
And now Cllr Burden is calling on KCC to scrap the fees altogether.
He said: "It is costing more all the way around and making it inconvenient for residents which doesn't make sense.
"There is not only a limit on how much you can dump there is a charge.
"That means if you are doing work at home and want to act responsibly and dump the rubbish at Pepperhill to be recycled you are going to be charged for doing it."
Earlier this year council enforcement teams traced a woman who had dumped her Christmas rubbish by the river despite living down the road from the same tip in Southfleet.
Cllr Burden believes fees for DIY-type waste at dumps has discouraged people from "doing the right thing" and added to clean-up costs.
"If it's on our land we have to pay for it," he explained. "If it's on KCC's, ie the highways or their footpaths, then we can give them the bill.
"We are being penalised by them trying to raise money and that's not helping the community because that means our charges have to go up just to cover them making money."
He added: "That level of rubbish has gone up and that level of inconvenience to local residents has gone up.
"We are trying to keep on top of it and that's why we are also bringing in a lot more enforcement."
The councillor, who represents Northfleet South, added: "It is about allowing people to do what they really want to do which is act legally.
"But with the charges it makes it very difficult for them."
The problem is not just restricted to Gravesham with other rural communities across the county also affected, he added.
"It is a Kent wide problem," said Cllr Burden. "The fly-tipping numbers have gone up since 2019 and that's directly related to when they brought the charges in.
"The two things can't be unlinked. If you bring charges in people then flytip because they don't want to pay the money. "
He added: "We are doing our bit but we need KCC to step up and help us."
When the fees were first introduced Kent County Council, said: "We’ve introduced these charges to recover the cost of dealing with these types of non-household waste while still offering a disposal service.
"The charges are intended to help us achieve critical savings while still maintaining a comprehensive service for residents."
It says it is aware changes to its serves have raised concerns about a potential increase in fly-tipping.
But the authority responsible for waste management functions, maintains there is "no clear evidence" between those councils who charge for DIY-type waste disposal and a resulting rise in cases.
It points to evidence from a recent survey by resources charity, The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) which found "no evidence of an association between fly-tipping and charging at HWRC's".
The report, which looked at cases between September 2019 and December 2020, included Gravesham and various other local Kent authority areas.
However, KCC added that it would continue to "monitor the issue".
